Smoke Notes

The artist named after the most famous android in science fiction, RJD2s debut album Deadringer caused a sensation, and became one of the most acclaimed hip-hop inspired records for some time. With this, his sophomore effort, he takes his musical blueprint one step further, marrying rock, blues, funk & jazz to hip-hop beats, and nearly creating a new genre in the process. Ring Finger features flamenco guitar next to Lynyrd Skynyrd-style rock and works. 1976 is an effortlessly funky tribute to the tough grooves of the period, sounding like a cross between the Isley Brothers and Bootsy Collins. Making Days Longer is another shift in direction, a pretty cover of Labi Siffre, the instrumentation richly warm and organic, and a lot like the lush experiments of Boards Of Canada. Elsewhere RJD2 attempts Miami blues, on the wonderfully laid back To All Of You, and a melding of Kraftwerk to southern swing on Iced Lightning, perhaps the most mind blowing collision on the album. This is music for musicians that still manages to be appealing to the everyday listener - put this record on and people are gonna ask you what it is - guaranteed. It grabs your attention and keeps it. This is the pinnacle of sample based music, and you cant help but think if only all hip-hop inspired work could still be this innovative and refreshing. Since We Last Spoke is a record to get lost in, and an album that grows in stature with every listen, if you need to feel inspired again then this is the perfect medicine. Thoroughly recommended, and a "must have" for fans of his excellent last album 'Deadringer', or any fan of the likes of DJ Shadow and other such contemporary beat-sculptors. Catch him "live" at Big Day Out 2005.